25 of the Best Indoor Swimming Pools in Sydney

  • Family
    Kids

Don't let a little drizzle, a burst of chilly winds, or even that scorching Aussie sun dampen your aquatic fun. 

When the beach isn't on the cards, guess what? Sydney's got your back with some splash-tastic indoor pools that scream fun. Not only are these gems perfect for diving in regardless of the skies' moods, but they're also super budget-friendly – win-win! 

Gear up to make a splash in the comfort of these awesome indoor havens. Dive right into our handpicked list of the city's best indoor pools, perfect for kiddo-approved, weather-proof escapades. 

25 of the Best Indoor Swimming Pools in Sydney

City

Cook + Phillip Park Pool
Kids will have a whale of a time at Cook + Phillip Park Pool.


Cook and Phillip Park Aquatic Centre located right in the middle of the city, is easy to get to and well-served by public transport.

There is a decent-sized children’s pool with a water slide and cute mosaic sculptures to swim around, plus a 33-degree heated baby pool that you can use when no classes are going on (afternoons are best). It’s also right across the road from The Australian Museum so splash around then head to the museum for a few more hours of indoor fun. 

Cook & Phillip Swimming Pool
ellaslist splashes into Cook and Phillip Swimming Pool.


For more museum+swimming fun, plan a visit to the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre followed by the Powerhouse Museum next door. There’s a good-sized leisure pool, shallow at one end and excellent for babies, plus fountains and bubbles for the kiddies to play with.
 

Gunyama Pool
Gunyama Park Aquatic Centre


We know you'll all be desperate to go for a swim at Sydney's Gunyama Park Aquatic Centre in Zetland. The amazing facility is attracting plenty of keen families and swimmers all wanting to check out the first Olympic-sized swimming pool in Sydney since the 2000 Olympics! Gunyama has both an outdoor and indoor pool on offer, plus slides aplenty.

RELATED:
Sydney's Best Outdoor Swimming Pools

Eastern Suburbs

The best indoor swimming pools in Sydney
Can't decide between indoor and outdoor swimming? Des Renford Leisure Centre has both!


The Des Renford Leisure Centre in Maroubra offers both indoor and outdoor swimming fun for the whole family. Both pools are luxuriously heated so you can go for a dip and play all throughout the year. They've also just opened an epic Splash Park—it's outdoors, but oh so much fun! 

Inner West

Ashfield Aquatic Centre
The new Ashfield Aquatic Centre.


Ashfield Leisure Centre underwent a mega renovation in 2020 and now offers Sydney families state-of-the-art facilities and very pretty new digs! From heated indoor pools to creche facilities, a spa, fitness studios, and indoor toddlers' pools, the new Ashfield Aquatic Centre is up there with our favourite leisure centres in Sydney. 

The Annette Kellerman Aquatic Centre is a great place to spend a rainy or hot summer day. There’s a fab toddler splash pool with fountains and water features to keep the littlies endlessly amused. Once you have worked up an appetite, stop in at the kid-friendly cafe next to the pool for a post-swim snack.

Leichhardt Aquatic Centre has six swimming pools which include two children’s pools – a shallow-heated indoor toddler pool and an outdoor mushroom play pool specifically designed as a kid's aquatic playground with a nice lawn area adjacent to it.

North West

The best indoor swimming pools in Sydney
Check out the newly renovated Splasher's Playground at Sydney Olympic Park.


Sydney Olympic Park is our ultimate favourite AND the whole pool has just undergone a mega renovation! It has the very best pool in Sydney with amazing water play areas, a whirlpool and a giant waterslide.

The Olympic Park Aquatic Centre’s amazing Splashers Water Playground will keep all ages happy for hours and there’s plenty of parking plus a couple of indoor cafes as well.

Head to Ryde Aquatic and Leisure Centre for loads of watery fun for big and small. Waterslides, a wave pool (weekends and school holidays), bubble whirlpools, wading pools and a rapid river are the main attractions here.

The Waves Fitness and Aquatic Centre
The Waves Fitness and Aquatic Centre also has an outdoor water play station.


Dive into a rejuvenated world of aquatic delight at The Waves Fitness and Aquatic Centre in Baulkham Hills.

Fresh from its 2022 upgrade, the Centre offers a pristine swimming environment with a spacious 10-lane, 50-metre outdoor pool and a 10-lane, 25-metre counterpart. But the fun doesn't stop with serious laps!

Inside, you'll find a 25-metre pool perfect for all ages. Got little water babies in tow? They'll adore the indoor leisure and toddler pool areas. And for those sun-soaked days, there's no better spot than the outdoor water play splash pad. Think tipping buckets, exhilarating water slides, fun water cannons, and a myriad of sprinklers sending cool sprays in every direction. 

Greater West

Parramatta Aquatic Centre
Check out the all-abilities water playground at Parramatta Aquatic Centre.


The revamped Parramatta Aquatic Centre finally reopened at the end of 2023 and is the place to be rain, hail or shine. With both indoor pools and outdoor pools, plus, an all-abilities water playground, learn-to-swim pools, and spa facilities, the new water precinct has it all!

Ripples Leisure Centre in St Mary's has an indoor pool that is heated to a temperature of 29 degrees all year round. The children's area is such a big hit with its slide, water buckets, plus a mini spa for everyone to enjoy.
 

Aquaplay at Fairfield Leisure Centre
Aquaplay at Fairfield Leisure Centre is usually open from September to April.


If you're out and about in Fairfield, head to Fairfield Leisure Centre for a refreshing dip. There are three heated indoor pools (25 to 50 metres), plus, the super fun Aquaplay water zone.
 

Prairiewood Leisure Centre
An aerial view of Prairiewood Leisure Centre.


Prairiewood Leisure Centre is also part of Fairfield Leisure Centres and offers a 25-metre heated indoor pool along with other facilities, including, the famous Aquatopia.

Blacktown Aquatic Centre
Blacktown Aquatic Centre


Blacktown City Council's impressive Blacktown Aquatic Centre is one of the most popular indoor swimming pools in Sydney. Located in the heart of Blacktown city, the aquatic facility is super convenient for Western Sydney families, offering a refreshing dip on those stinking-hot days, plus, learn-to-swim classes, a fully equipped gym, fitness studio, and kids' splashpad.

Charlie Lowles Leisure Centre Emerton is also run by Blacktown City Council and has a whopping six pools and other state-of-the-art aquatic facilities.

Auburn Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre
We know the kids will head straight to the toddler zone at Auburn Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre!


Auburn Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre in Lidcombe, swimming, fitness, and fun are on the menu. Their outdoor pool is Olympic-sized, while their indoor pool is 25 metres and includes a leisure pool with a beach entry - we love those! The outdoor splash pad is also super popular with the kiddies.

Springwood Aquatic Centre
There's plenty of splash-tastic fun to be had at Springwood Aquatic Centre.


The Springwood Aquatic Centre is more than just a leisure centre! With an amazing leisure pool (pictured below) with a children’s beach area, a cute Noddy water car, a huge waterslide and a turbo pool, the little ones will enjoy their splash-about for hours.

South Sydney/St George

The best indoor swimming pools in Sydney
Slides, sprayers and other water fun are on offer at Hurstville Aquatic Centre.


Hurstville Aquatic and Leisure Centre is another great indoor pool for kids. With a nice-sized indoor leisure pool with a slide and an onsite cafe and creche, it’s an easy place to spend a few damp hours.

Angelo Anestis Aquatic Centre
Angelo Anestis Aquatic Centre


Head to Angelo Anestis Aquatic Centre (Bexley Aquatic) for a refreshing and fun dip. With indoor and outdoor pools, plus, a kids' play area, Angelo Anestis Aquatic Centre is fun for the whole family. 

Sutherland Shire

Sutherland Leisure Centre
The super cool water splash park at Sutherland Leisure Centre.


The Sutherland Leisure Centre is massive with a heated indoor pool, family fun areas, cafe, creche and fitness facilities. There's also a water splash park with slides outside if you want to save that for a sunny day! 

The best indoor swimming pools in Sydney
Looking for a large indoor pool in Sydney? Sutherland Leisure Centre has one of the biggest in town!

North Shore

Lane Cove Aquatic Centre - this place is great for families. The indoor leisure pool is really big and there are lots of fun water features (the fountain tunnel is a real favourite!). Parking is easy with a council car park just across the road.

Lane Cove Aquatic Centre
Head to Lane Cove Aquatic Centre for a huge pool plus plenty of kid-friendly water features.


Willoughby Leisure Centre has a great big indoor kids pool, which often has giant inflatable fun sessions - call ahead to see if the giant slides are up. Please note that the Willougby Leisure Centre will be closed from September 2022 for a massive $20-million-dollar upgrade. 

The Hornsby Aquatic and Leisure Centre has a heated leisure pool with a zero-depth entry leading into a walking zone and fun water features for kids, a two-metre-high enclosed water slide for children and a heated, 25-metre indoor pool for learn-to-swim activities. There is also a creche!

Northern Beaches

Warringah Aquatic Centre
Big kids will get a kick out of the diving boards at Warringah Aquatic Centre.


The Warringah Aquatic Centre is the place to be on a rainy day. The indoor heated Olympic-sized pool has a designated Fun & Splash area for the kids and when they are worn out, mum can drop them off at the excellent on-site creche and swim a few laps!

A visit to the Warringah Water Playground is also a must-do!

You can also check out the ellaslist Swimming Directory for more pools and learn-to-swim providers in your area.

More Water Fun to Make a Splash

Top FREE Water Parks for Kids in Sydney
Sydney's Best Playgrounds by the Water
ellaslist Reviews: The Cook And Phillip Pool


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Reviews


Kresta

Dec 01 2017

The attraction is really good, where kids can go down the slides, water buckets, and even there is a current pool. But unfortunately they only open the kids section area during Sat and Sun only so if you come during the week, you just can only play in the pool with the little ones. And during Sat & Sun it can be crowded as heck, and the toilet can be a bit of disaster, dirty and trash everywhere. Not to mention the family changing rooms take FOREVER, like maybe per family took AT LEAST 30 min and the queue is a bit of disaster during the weekend. Just do yourself a favour, rinse yourself with the public shower and just take a proper shower at home, where it's clean and no queue.


selina. Jazella. antonio

Oct 03 2015

Nice we love to enjoy the pools


tara

Oct 08 2013

I grew up in Wattle Grove & swam at 'The Whitlam Centre' in Liverpool. that was over 10yrs ago & i recently took my son, 5 1/2yrs of age, & we BOTH had a phenominal day! 10/10 2 indoor pools, 1 pool has about 6lanes with a reasonable size swimming area (used for aqua-arobics occassionally), the second pool is for the kids but adults are more than welcome to swim, walk & enjoy. it has big mushrooms with water falling down from the rim of the shrooms, colour tiled art work at the bottom of the pool, a teeny baby pool added on, a whirl pool (not always on, & not as awesome as it sounds but really good fun). A reasonable tree slide with water dropping down before the mini slide. both pools are heated!! inside theres 2 or 3 spa's "Adult Only". outside has 100m lane pool, non-heated with around 12 lanes. and another kids pool with water sprayers & whirl pool too. its worth a family outing expecially if you live close by!! i loved it as a child, loved it now as an adult/mother and will always love it years to come!! cjeck it out! i promise you wont be dissapointed! sincerely, Tara x.


June

Sep 15 2013

Worth the trip to Lane Cove, as it's warm, even in winter. Safe and patrolled carefully, it is very child friendly. It can get manic on a hot day, but we go early in the morning, to beat the lunchtime crowds. Cafe has the basics, but food isn't healthy - would recommend packing your own. Free parking is also a positive aspect.


June

Sep 15 2013

It was a hot day when I took my 6y old daughter in January. It was mayhem, with too many people in the pools and it felt dangerous. I had to stay ultra close to my daughter, a competent swimmer, as there was an overwhelming number of adolescents and adults using the children's pool and slides. I lost her at one point, as there were 18y boys acting crazily in my way. I wouldn't recommend it for young children. It just wasn't adequately patrolled or safe. There should be an age limit on the children's pool and equipment, so little ones can be safe.


Jo

Feb 07 2012

I have to agree the best of the best and the one we always travel to is Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. We have our lesson there and then there is a play area great for small and big kids. A fun day out for all.